St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival Finals

The Metropolis Oratorical Festival Finals were held on Saturday, May 11, 2013
at the Metropolis of Boston in Brookline, MA. This was the 30th
anniversary of the St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival, a ministry
of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Department of Religious Education.

His
Eminence Metropolitan Methodios opened the event with the singing of
Christos Anesti, followed by the opening prayer and words of
encouragement for our participants.

Sixteen young adults in grades 7 through 12 from throughout the Metropolis presented
very well prepared speeches on topics about Greek Orthodox theology and on church life.

The
eight finalists in the junior division, listed by speaking order were:
Francesca Skedros from St. Demetrios Church in Weston, MA; Sarah Billis
from St. Sophia Church in New London, CT; Philip Economou from St.
Spyridon Cathedral in Worcester, MA; Costas Vergados fro Ss. Constantine
and Helen Church in Andover, MA; Kyros Vergados from Ss. Constantine
and Helen Church in Andover, MA; Sarah Christo from St. Gregory Church
in Mansfield, MA; Christiana Stamas from St. George Cathedral in
Springfield, MA; and Sophia Kyrou from St. Athanasius Church in
Arlington, MA.

The first place finalist in the
junior divison was Costas Vergados, the second place finalist was
Francesca Skedros, and Philip Economou and Christiana Stamas were tied
for third place.

The eight finalists in the senior
division, listed by speaking order were: Sophia Petrou from
Annunciation Church in Cranston, RI; Juliana Bologa from St. Luke Church
in East Longmeadow, MA; Katina Smith from St. George Cathedral in
Manchester, NH; Susan Kourtis from St. Demetrios Church in Weston, MA;
Peter Bowling from St. Athanasius Church in Arlington, MA; Basil
Vergados from Ss. Constantine and Helen Church in Andover, MA; Eleni
Giannopoulos from St. Spyridon Church in Newport, RI; and Andrew Dasco
from St. Luke Church in East Longmeadow, MA.

The
first place finalist in the senior division was Basil Vergados, the
second place finalist was Susan Kourtis, and the third place finalist
was Eleni Giannopoulos.

The two first place finalists will represent the Metropolis of Boston at the national finals June 7-9, 2013 at the Annunciation Church in Memphis, TN.

His
Eminence Metropolitan Methodios congratulated
all of the young participants for their presentations and for a job
well done. His Eminence also announced that the first, second, and
third place finalists in each division would receive a camp scholarship
for the 2013 Camp Summer Program. His Eminence closed with the singing
of Christos Anesti and with a closing prayer.